Not taking full feeds at night at 5 months?

[gorgeousmumof]

He has only been on formula for a week.. 3 of those days hungry baby milk. When he first went on formula he would have bottles as expected in the day, every 3 hours taking about 5oz, but at night would wake every 30 minutes or so and would take 1-2oz and then go back to sleep, and this would go on all night.

Since being on hungry baby milk he is going 4 hours between feeds but still only taking 4-5oz per feed. He now only has 2-3 bottles at night but will take one bottle over a few hours.. and sometimes does this through the day.

The HV said to offer water inbetween feeds, as when babies start doing this it means they are usually ready to drop those feeds... but surely it would be too soon for this to happen when he has only been off the breast for a week?
He was mixed fed before this for a week.. but still. And its not that he is used to feeding every 30 minutes so is doing it because he was breastfed because on the breast he was going 3 hours between feeds both in the day and at night.

I have started weaning him and giving him tea at about 4pm.. but that doesnt seem to help by filling him up. And he doesnt eat much yet is just enjoying the new tastes. Also when I do offer water in the night he drinks about 2oz of it.. so I worry he will have too much water in the day.

I also think he is teething, so have been using calpol and teething gel. But still no change.

Any ideas please?

 

[OmarsMum]

Hi hun, he's cluster feeding. When he wakes up at night offer him few sips of water instead of a feed, & a dummy if he takes one, it seems that he's waking up for a comfort suck not hunger. Try to pat & shh before offering him a milk feed when he wakes up.

During the day, try to feed him in a dark room with no distractions when he's tired. I'm not sure why you'r using hungry baby milk if you started FFing 1 week only. Hungry baby is too filling & for a BF baby I dont think it's easy for his stomach to digest.

ETA: what teat size are using?

 

[gorgeousmumof]

He had stage 1 formula for about a week.. had been mixed fed before that cos of breastfeeding problems. And on the breast he didnt seem filled up enough.
Put him on hungry baby milk because he started going 30 mins to 1 hour between feeds and no longer.

He has a variflow teat. He has just woken up after 20 mins sleep.. 3 hours from his last feed.. and has only taken 4oz and gone back to sleep. Tried to wake him and feed him but hes having none of it.

I have been offering water at night but he will keep drinking and drinking. I worry he would drink too much? He has a dummy but when he wakes wont take it, or if he does it falls straight back out.

 

[OmarsMum]

2 oz of water after starting weaning is fine hun, teething & solids cause thirst. There is sleep regression between 4-5 months & it takes sometime to settle. Keep offering him his dummy while patting & shhhing, & use the pick up, put down method until he settles. Try to extend the time between feeds at night, if he stays awake for more than 30 mins offer him a bottle. During the day, try feeding him with no distractions. They go through phases, at 5 months my DS was only drinking 10-12 oz as he was teething & he still goes through phases of going off food & milk & wakes up hungry at night.

 

[gorgeousmumof]

I think I struggle in the night more because I have a toddler, and I try to minimise babys crying so not to wake him. But if I offer water when he wakes and crys he will stop and drink it and drift back off.. I just cannot take it off him and put the dummy in without him stirring again unless he has had a decent amount.

I have heard before about babies "drowning" so to speak from drinking too much water.. not drowning I know but that it caused problems some how. Is that def not the case?

I am struggling tbh to know how much he should have and how often, when to offer water.. how to start the weaning properly etc. Because I am used to breastfeeding. And we have had such a tough time since he was born. And now with trying to figure if he is teething. And trying to occupy my toddler aswell. But it is getting better I think.

 

[OmarsMum]

I think I struggle in the night more because I have a toddler, and I try to minimise babys crying so not to wake him. But if I offer water when he wakes and crys he will stop and drink it and drift back off.. I just cannot take it off him and put the dummy in without him stirring again unless he has had a decent amount.

I have heard before about babies "drowning" so to speak from drinking too much water.. not drowning I know but that it caused problems some how. Is that def not the case?

I am struggling tbh to know how much he should have and how often, when to offer water.. how to start the weaning properly etc. Because I am used to breastfeeding. And we have had such a tough time since he was born. And now with trying to figure if he is teething. And trying to occupy my toddler aswell. But it is getting better I think.

Omar drinks a full cup of 3 oz when he wakes up at night. He drinks around 2-3 full cups of water. Your LO is fully weaned & already 1 year so water is fine at her age. With younger babies 2-3 oz before they'r 6 months is fine if they'r already weaned.

 

[gorgeousmumof]

I have only just started him on solids so he is currently having a little bit of tea. But doesnt have more than a few spoonfuls. I have been adding a little baby juice to his water. So tonight will try just water as then he wont be taking it for the taste but instead for thirst?

 

[OmarsMum]

This explains why he's taking 2 oz he likes the taste of juice. Give him plain water hun, he might take few sucks, & when he notices it's only water he might stop taking more, takes his dummy & back to sleep. It's hard work with a toddler & a baby, big hugs hun xx

 

[gorgeousmumof]

I tried water last night but he refused it. Was up every hour. But I think it was due to teething. He has 4 bottles of 5oz between 10pm and 8am. I am now wondering if I should put him back on the stage 1 milk as it will be easier on his stomach. And just give hungry milk now and again. Maybe once a day. so he gets used to it better? He downed his feeds last night so it didn't seem to fill him up any more than the normal milk.